Spring is in the air. Often when the weather warms we tackle home projects. Often it may be a job too large to handle ourselves or call for a professional in that particular trade. Here are some ideas to help choose the right contractor.

Where to find contractor:

o Call your local city hall and ask for reputable contractor names. Troy may not have a list but you can call others that do!

o Ask a reputable company for a suggestion (perhaps your plumber knows a great roofer).

o The Troy phone book offers several options.

o Web search are great for finding local companies that often showcase photos of their work online.

After selecting contractors to provide proposals it is important to interview your contractor to see if they are a right fit for your family. Your contractor will be in your home around your family a certain level of trust is a necessity.

How to “background check” of your contractor:

o If it is an Illinois Licensed Professional a license can be looked up to be sure it is valid and does not have any actions against them.

How is all this rain effecting your roof?

NO MORE RAIN!!! I know that this is one of the soggiest springs/summer so far. Whenever it rains hard, there is the potential for major damage to homes when you aren’t protected. Here are some effects of heavy rainfall on your roof and what you can do to avoid them.

Heavy rain effects

If storms are common in your area, heavy rains will wear down shingles and other elements of a roof. The damage left in a storm’s wake can involve lost shingles and moisture penetration in the underlayment. This water damage can penetrate the roof deck and eventually compromise the structural integrity of the home. Excessive moisture may also lead to rot and mold inside your home, which spells trouble both structurally and for the health of your family.

Homes with sloping roofs present special challenges when trying to protect from rain damage because water collects where parts of the roof connect. Roofers are able to install waterproofing for roofs of this type to protect against moisture damage. Problems may also arise from improperly installed roofing or clogged gutters. Anywhere there are holes for nails and rainwater collecting from backed up gutters you have the potential for serious damage.

Protecting your roof

Knowing a roof’s weak spots is the only way to protect against the effects of heavy rainfall on your roof. Checking on your home’s condition after a major winter storm is recommended, but a professional inspection every year or two is necessary to assess damage and figure out ways to prevent more.

You may even consider preparing your home for hurricanes and other intense storms in the area. While gabled roofs are the most vulnerable to heavy rains and wind, any roof with missing shingles, damaged flashing or a lack of weatherproofing may take a beating from storms throughout the year. As with a car or other parts of your home, preventive maintenance is the best way to prolong the life of your roof.

There are ways to prevent the worst effects of heavy rainfall on your roof. Between regular maintenance and trusting only Ryterski Remodeling you will put yourself in a position to get the most of your roofing investment. Contact Ryterski to learn more about protecting your home for the long run.

The following information is designed to assist owners in establishing a regular and beneficial roof inspection and maintenance program. This important area of responsibility for the building owner can provide many long-term benefits, including extended life expectancy of the roofing system, reduced average in-place cost, prevention of major deterioration resulting from minor problems and eventually, reduced roof system replacement cost.

Roof Maintenance Guidelines

All roofs require regular inspections and periodic maintenance to achieve their expected life. Roofs should be inspected at l

east twice yearly, in the spring and fall. Additionally, all roofs should be inspected after any severe weather or storms. The roofing contractor who installed

the roof membrane, inconjunction with the building owner’s maintenance personnel, should perform these inspections. Leaks occur most often at flashings, pitch pans, gravel stops, and other penetrations. Pay special attention to these areas.

Included among the roof components that are not part of the roof membrane and hence not covered by the applicable CertainTeed limited warranty are the

You can easily measure your roof from the ground and once you know the number of squares you can multiply by $250.00 to find the price of your new roof. *This is including Landmark Certainteed shingles on a one layer 7/12 pitch roof or under*

1.

Measure the ground dimensions of the house using a tape measure, and write down these dimensions. Multiply the length by the width to arrive at the ground area of the house. If the house has an irregular shape, measure each part separately, figure the separate areas and add them together.

2.

Convert the area to roofing squares. Because each 100 square feet of roof is one roofing square, divide the total area from Step 1 by 100. The answer is the number of roofing squares for the roof.

3.

Estimate the pitch of the roof. Roofs have one of three pitches: low, medium or high. A low pitch rises 3 inches every 12 inches of base horizontal length. A medium pitch rises 6 to 9 inches every 12 inches of base horizontal length. A high pitch roof rises more than 9 inches for every 12 inches of base horizontal length. Estimate the roof pitch by sight or calculate it with a level in the next step.

4.

Calculate roof pitch by downloading a free app by pictometry on your mobile device. Use the pitch gauge by lining the gauge to the roof line this will give you the pitch of your roof.

5.

Multiply the number of roofing squares for a low-pitch roof by 1.06 to 1.08 to get the square roof area. Multiply the number of roofing squares for a medium-pitch roof by 1.12 to 1.25 — or by 1.3 to 1.42 for a high-pitch roof — to get the square roof area.